Tridax procumbens
Coat buttons
Tridax procumbens, commonly known as coatbuttons, is a versatile medicinal herb widely distributed in tropical regions. Renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, it is frequently used in traditional medicine to treat skin infections, promote tissue regeneration, and alleviate various systemic ailments through its bioactive compounds.
- Scientific name: Tridax procumbens
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it follows the order Asterales and is a member of the Asteraceae family. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Tridax.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Tridax | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Tridax procumbens, is recognized by various local names across different regions and languages. In Indonesia, it is commonly referred to as Gletang (id), while in the Malayalam-speaking regions of India, it is called ചിരവനാക്ക് (ml). It is known as कंबरमोडी (mr) in Marathi, and in Telugu, it is identified as గడ్డి చామంతి (te). Additionally, in Thailand, the plant is frequently called ตีนตุ๊กแก (th).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| id | Gletang | Wikidata |
| ml | ചിരവനാക്ക് | Wikidata |
| mr | कंबरमोडी | Wikidata |
| te | గడ్డి చామంతి | Wikidata |
| th | ตีนตุ๊กแก | Wikidata |
| vi | Cúc mui | Wikidata |
| zh | 長柄菊 | Wikidata |
| bn | ত্রিধারা | Wikidata |
| ru | Тридакс лежачий | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 長柄菊 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct tropical regions. Within the Macaronesian islands, it can be found specifically in Cape Verde. Its presence extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Benin. Furthermore, the species thrives in the landscapes of Burkina and Guinea. Finally, its range includes the territory of the Ivory Coast.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as coatbuttons, is a versatile medicinal herb where various components are utilized for therapeutic purposes. While the leaves are often studied for their specific phytochemical properties, much of the traditional healing power is derived from the whole plant or the whole aerial parts, which include the stems and flowers. Researchers frequently utilize plant extracts obtained from these components to isolate bioactive compounds for pharmacological studies. Ultimately, the efficacy of the medicinal treatments often depends on whether the aerial parts are used in isolation or as part of a more comprehensive preparation.- Total parts
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 12
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Tridax procumbens has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 48 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, tannins, lupeol, polyphenols, terpenoids.
- Total chemicals
- 39
- Scientific sources
- 48
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| tannins | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| lupeol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (3S)-16,17-didehydrofalcarinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (S,Z)-Heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3-ol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| L-arabino-D-galactan | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Naphthalene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Octadecanoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Tridax procumbens has 11 reported activities identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anticancer, Anticoagulant.
- Total activities
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 20
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticoagulant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiherpetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperlipidemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Tridax procumbens has 44 reported medicinal uses identified across 48 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Leishmania mexicana, Staphylococcus aureus, oxidative stress, wounds, Bacillus cereus.
- Total uses
- 44
- Scientific sources
- 48
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Leishmania mexicana | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus cereus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| E. coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HSV-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Japanese encephalitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mycobacterium smegmatis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |